The percentage of people classified as obese is increasing at a staggering rate. Between the years of 1993 – 2012 the percentage of men falling into this group rose from 13.2 % to 24.4 %, with women not far behind with an increase from 16.4 % to 25.1 %. Being overweight as a child increases the likelihood of the individual aging into an obese adult where weight related problems such as heart attacks, diabetes and strokes more regularly occur.

A new study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences (2) sought to determine the most effective way to reduce inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk factors in obese adolescents. A group of 139 participants were enrolled aged between 15 – 19 years with a body mass index (BMI) > 95th percentile. The cohort was randomly split into to two groups:

It was found that the group participating in Aerobic Training plus Resistance Training showed better results in regard to a decreased body fat mass, low-density lipoprotein concentration levels, subcutaneous and visceral fat and increased body lean mass. Further to this, a reduction of hyperleptinaemia and an increase in adiponectin concentration was observed, promoting an improvement in the leptin/adiponectin ratio.

Important clinical parameters were improved in both types of exercise; however, aerobic training plus resistance training was more effective in improving the visceral adiposity, metabolic profile and inflammatory markers than aerobic training alone, suggesting clinical applications for the control of intra-abdominal obesity and cardiovascular risk in the paediatric population.